Red Cross issues 'emergency appeal' for blood donors

The American Red Cross has issued an emergency appeal for donors of all blood types.

Nationwide, donations through the Red Cross were down about 10-percent in June. The Red Cross says there were about 50,000 fewer donations than expected.

The Red Cross says June can one of the most challenging months of the year for blood and platelet donations. High school and college blood drives account for about 20 percent of Red Cross donations during the school year. The Red Cross says the mid-week Independence Day holiday also reduced the number of blood drives scheduled in early July.

Eligible donors with types O negative, B negative and A negative blood are especially encouraged to give. Type O negative is the universal blood type and can be transfused to anyone who needs blood. Types A negative and B negative can be transfused to Rh positive or negative patients. There is also a critical need for platelet donors.

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